OT: Join the Fight to Save the Palo Alto Bowl!

http://www.move.to/savethepaloaltobowl

From a June 13th, 2009 report on kcbs.com:

"PALO ALTO, Calif. (KCBS/Palo Alto Weekly) -- City leaders are expected to approve a plan to replace the Palo Alto Bowl with a four-story hotel and 26 new houses after residents and planning commissioners agreed to move forward with the plan last Wednesday night.

The development is set to be located on El Camino Real, next to Mountain View and Los Altos city limits, according to the Palo Alto Weekly. The 167-room hotel and 26 three-story and duplex-style condominiums 0are expected to bring in about $850,000 to the city annually.

The Palo Alto Weekly reports the project is scheduled to undergo a final review by the Architectural Review Board in August. It will then go to the City Council for approval."

The Palo Alto Bowl is representative of a simpler time; of romanticism. As soon as one steps inside, they can sense a true, old-world atmosphere in the place; in the simplicity. None of that new-age, almost futurisitc technology and design which sadly plagues many new alleys today; while these bowls may be shinier and some of the equipment easier to use, it is also these very aspects which take away so so so so very much.

City Councils are supposed to represent "us," the people, not their special interests!

The council makes its final decision in August, so we do not have much time. And even then ... history has shown us that council decisions can be turned around if enough pressure is applied.

Please consider joining this cause! City Councils are supposed to represent "us," the people, and do what's best for the city, not what's best for their special interests. Not what will slowly rob cities of all their character.

This is not government.

Peace

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Updated On: 7/21/09 at 01:26 AM

Hi you all ... well, here we are ... a public hearing on the Palo Alto Bowl! I urge you to please please "please" come on out and show your support! So far, this is our greatest chance at success!

From one of the bartenders at Palo Alto Bowl:

"Hey guys! I'm the weekend bartender at Palo Alto Bowl, and I wanted to let everyone know that the public hearing with the city council is November 18, 2009 at 6:00 pm. I will be there with about 6 other employees along with other supporters. Please come out; you don't have to speak, but we can sure impress them with numbers. For more info please message me, or call the Bowling Alley at (650) 248-1031! Thanks everyone for your continued support"

RSVP here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171038088863

Be sure to get there by 5:30. Especially if you wanna speak (which we STRONGLY URGE you to do); you can get your name on the list!

It will be a great challenge, yes, as developers and their money have the upper hand here; to be blunt, the status quo allows them to give the public a big "FU"

Public hearings on housing and hotel developments are a joke, as the developer already knows that they've won; there is just so much money in these types of developments, and city governments are too cowardly and special interest-serving to stand up to for the greater good

The status quo "has to change"

We can do this thing! Invite everybody you know! We need a really strong turnout!

And for those who cannot make it, we would appreciate it so much if you could send off a letter to the council in support of the Palo Alto Bowl! Contact information is here:

http://www.move.to/savethepaloaltobowl

Peace

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Updated On: 11/9/09 at 01:12 AM

If you have not yet joined the cause and are really serious about preserving this historic and popular landmark, then please join the growing number of supporters at:

http://www.move.to/savethepaloaltobowl

We are seriously exploring options, and are not yet dead. As history has shown us time and time again, preservation is still very possible.

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If you are trying to decide whether or not to join this cause, or if you are a current supporter, whether or not to leave, please allow me to copy an exerpt from the Palo Alto Daily News Article. It was said by now-former councilmember and vice-mayor Jack Morton, who voted to proceed with demolition:

"'It is sad in this community that wealth doesn't make room, not only for special needs, but just for normal people,' Morton said. 'Most communities in America pride themselves on having things like bowling alleys. We tear 'em down and replace 'em with million-dollar condos.'"

Refusing to take a stand against the area of our legal system which, because of the amount of special-interest money involved, protects hotel and housing developers from any public protest.

Things need to change.

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